Knicks aim to close out physical series vs. Pistons in Game 5

A week ago, the New York Knicks hit the road in the middle of their playoff series against the Detroit Pistons after Karl-Anthony Towns hardly touched the ball in the fourth quarter of a six-point loss in Game 2.

After two successful outings for Towns and more clutch performances from Jalen Brunson, the Knicks get their first chance at closing out their physical and highly competitive Eastern Conference first-round series Tuesday night when they host the Pistons in Game 5.

The Knicks are attempting to advance to the second round for the third straight season. The Pistons are hoping to force the best-of-seven series to a Game 6 on Thursday at home after the Knicks won twice in Detroit by a combined three points.

Towns was held to 10 points and did not attempt a free throw during New York’s 100-94 loss in Game 2. In Game 3 last Thursday, he scored 31 in a 118-116 win, and on Sunday he helped the Knicks survive shooting 37.4 percent from the field by supplementing Brunson’s 32 points with 27 of his own, including eight in the final 2:43 and the go-ahead 3-pointer with 47 seconds left in a 94-93 victory.

“He has tremendous confidence,” coach Tom Thibodeau said of Towns, who is averaging a career playoff-best 22.8 points in this series. “He has an amazing touch. He shoots the ball like a guard. He has unlimited range and he can score off the dribble. … We have to continue to search him out and he has to continue to move.”

Towns’ clutch shooting occurred as Brunson posted his fourth 30-point game of the series. Brunson is averaging 33.3 points against Detroit after scoring 35.5 per game in New York’s first-round win over the Philadelphia 76ers last spring.

Brunson and the Knicks are in the same position as last April. They held a 3-1 lead over Philadelphia but took a six-point loss on their home court before winning the series in Philadelphia.

The Knicks are also attempting to clinch a postseason series at home for the first time since winning the Eastern Conference title over the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 on June 11, 1999, at a time when games resembled the physical nature of this series.

“I think this is a great series for the NBA,” Towns said. “I think it gives a little bit of old-school vibes. I think this is great for kids watching who haven’t been able to see old-school basketball to see this kind of reminiscent game of old-school physicality.”

What is not great for the Pistons is how the final eight-plus minutes unfolded in Game 4.

Detroit rallied from a 16-point first-half deficit to take an 11-point lead with 8:35 left, then went scoreless in the final 1:52 and didn’t get a foul called on New York’s Josh Hart on a contested 3-point try by Tim Hardaway Jr.

In the four games, the Knicks have gone to the line 83 times while the Pistons have attempted 98 free throws. The Knicks have been called for 82 fouls while Detroit has been whistled for 90 in a series where both sides have expressed dismay at the officiating.

Regardless of how the calls go Tuesday, the Pistons are hoping for more productive nights from Cade Cunningham. The former No. 1 draft pick is shooting 46.4 percent (32-for-69) in the past three games and scored 25 points Sunday.

“He has to carry us on the offensive end,” Bickerstaff said of Cunningham, who scored 33 in Game 2. “That’s a heavy burden on him, but he has come through so many times.”

Tobias Harris will be counted on to aid Cunningham after 8-of-24 shooting in the past two games. Hardaway also is hoping for a better showing in New York this time, as he shot 3-of-14 from 3-point range in the first two games before hitting 11 of 25 attempts from behind the arc in Detroit.

–Field Level Media